Teaneck–Local organizers of the Bergen County Shabbos Project are inviting all community members to attend a kick-off planning meeting at Congregation Keter Torah at 600 Roemer Avenue on Tuesday night, January 13, at 8:30 p.m. to organize next year’s programming, with the goal of bringing the Shabbos Project to every synagogue in the area. The Shabbos Project 2015 will occur on October 23 and 24, 2015.
Last October, the Teaneck/Bergenfield/Englewood/Fair Lawn communities joined over 460 cities and 65 countries worldwide to celebrate Shabbos with a community challah bake event, Kabbalat Shabbat, dinner, home hospitality, explanatory Shabbat morning services, lunch, informative panel discussions about Shabbos observance, a musical Havdalah service, and a concert featuring Pey Dalid. The Shabbos Project was started in 2013 by the Chief Rabbi of South Africa, who successfully encouraged a majority of South African Jewry to keep one entire Shabbos together.
Building on that success, in Bergen County last year, 300 women attended the challah bake, and close to 100 people attended the musical Havdalah service. Five to seven other synagogues in the region hosted davening programs and offered home hospitality.
“We will build upon last year’s events, explain what resources are currently available, and outline the steps that need to be taken in order for next year’s Shabbos Project to be successful,” said Daniella Lejtman, one of the Bergen County organizers. “One of the main points of the meeting is to outline opportunities available to help coordinate this endeavor and to recruit people who would help facilitate this project (i.e., form committees for social media, fundraising, challah bake, etc.) and although our main focus is Bergen County, it would be great to have people from other counties involved as well,” she added.
Local organizers of the Shabbos Project hope to have representation from Fair Lawn, Paramus, Tenafly, Englewood, Closter, Demarest, Glen Rock, Hillsdale, Haworth, Hackensack, Teaneck, Bergenfield, New Milford and any other communities who wish to join. Lea Weinreb, one of the Bergen County organizers, said, “This year, we plan to make the Shabbos Project even greater than last [year].” There is no need to RSVP. Those unable to attend and who would like more information, please email [email protected].
By Elizabeth Kratz
